Sunday 13th April 2008

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Christ, our Way to new life

"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." You couldn't get a clearer statement of intent and desire than that from anyone. The practice of our faith is about making that desire of Jesus a reality for one another. That's why he gave us his commandment to love one another. The fulfillment of that longing should be our aim in all that we do. It is the major task for every married couple, to help this other person to come to the greatest fulfillment of her/his potential. And if parents want to know what their parenting is about they have a true statement of it in this word of Christ. Parenting is not about what they give to their children but what they help their children to become as individuals. It is also a word for every parish community this week. We dare not settle for anything less than the best.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

SUNDAY 13th APRIL 2008 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Day for Prayer or Vocations

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 2: 14.36-41
Here Peter proclaims Jesus as the risen Lord, and urges his hearers to repent and accept baptism.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2: 20-25
Addressing slaves, Peter urges them to bear their unjust sufferings with patience as Christ, the Good Shepherd, bore his sufferings for love of us.

Gospel John 10: 1-10
Jesus compares his love for his disciples to the love of a shepherd for his sheep.

Life: Full and Free
When I worked in Indonesia as a missionary, a priest friend one day introduced a Chinese friend of his to me in the following manner: ‘This is so-and-so. He’s not Christian yet, he’s still free’. I couldn’t believe my ears. How could anyone think that being a Christian limited your freedom! Now, my friend may have thought he was being funny or subtle, but if so it was lost on me.

But his words did strike home. I wonder how many people actually think that religion cramps their style. And I also wonder what such people would want to do that they couldn’t do by being a Christian – particularly in the light of today’s Gospel (John 10.1-10) where Jesus tells us that he has come to bring life in all its fullness.

However, it doesn’t come pre-packed. It has to be worked on and worked with. Living as Jesus wants us to, leads to a full life. His Way is a precious gift, not a wearisome burden. It empowers, it doesn’t unman. It frees, it doesn’t enslave. But all the talk in the world won’t convince anybody, if we who are on that Way don’t show its fullness in our life through joy, maturity, generosity, courage and hope.

Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Week beginning Sunday 13th April - This Week’s Saints
Wednesday 16 – St Bernadette Soubirous
Friday 18 – St Laserian, bishop

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Tue Kitty McCrystal – Month’s Mind
Wed Sadie McCabe – Month’s Mind
Thur Colin Ratcliffe – 1st Anniversary
Fri Agnes Mullin – 1st Anniversary

Baptisms
Dean James McElhill, 30 Lammy Drive
Kyla Mable McGinty, 2 Coolnagard Meadows
Padraig Pearse Darcy, 31 Lammy Walk
Dara Colm Cox, 15 Drumannon View
Lucy Louise Retalic, 135 Clanabogan Road
Saoirse Mary Louise Donnelly, 19 Drumannon Grove

Friends of Africa Collection
A special Church Gate Collection in aid of ‘Friends of Africa’ will be held after all Masses on the weekend of Sunday 27th April 2008. Please support one of our parishioners who is volunteering for a six week building project in Southern Africa during June and July 2008. Your generosity will help make a big improvement in the lives of people in real and immediate need.

Holy Communion to the Sick & Housebound
The Eucharistic Ministers will bring Holy Communion to the sick and housebound who have requested it, next Sunday (20th) after 9.45am Mass and 11am mass and after 10am Mass in St Mary’s Church Drumragh.

Weddings
We congratulate the following couples who were married here recently:
Patricia O’Callaghan & Deaglan O’Hagan
Una Bresnahan & Davis O’Reilly
May the grace of the sacrament remain with them throughout their lives.

Questions people ask
Q. Every now and then I think I have a vocation from God to be a priest. What should I do about it?
A. Talk about it to a priest, preferably one who knows you, and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Every diocese and religious order organises Vocation Days to help people to discern their calling. A vocation to priesthood is a grace given to an individual for the service of the church community. Basic requirements of a genuine vocation to priesthood would include a desire to commit one’s life to God and the service of people, a sound faith, regular Mass attendance and prayer, the ability to co-operate with others and being willing to obey authority.

Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

West Tyrone Feis – Parking Restrictions
Due to the West Tyrone Feis, which begins this weekend in St Joseph’s Hall, there will be limited parking spaces at certain busy times. We ask for parishioners’ tolerance of this as the situation is unavoidable. We also ask that all patrons using the parking facilities do not abuse the disabled parking facilities. Anyone using these parking bays should have the appropriate badges. We thank you for your cooperation.

Omagh Lions Club Presents
Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables Fair
Omagh College
Sunday 20th April 12.30 – 5.30 pm
Adults £3 – Children Free
Primary Benefactor – Chest, Heart & Stroke Association

Beginning Experience
A Beginning Experience Residential Weekend for Widowed, Separated and Divorced (who have been on their own for at least one year) will be held in Drumalis Retreat & Conference Centre, Larne on 25th, 26th, and 27th April 2008. For further information, please contact Phil on 028 9020 7645 or Geraldine on 028 9083 3329.

Coffee Morning, Cake & Book Sale
Blind Centre, 10 James Street, Omagh
Monday 14th April 2008
10.30 am – 12.30 pm
All Welcome

St Joseph’s Ladies Club
Enjoy an evening of Flower Arranging with Ann McCann in St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Wednesday 16th April at 8.15 pm. Admission is £3 including supper. Everyone welcome.

Accord Marriage Care
Make a Real Difference By Helping Others
Become a Marriage Education Facilitator or Relationship Counsellor for Accord.
Information Evening on Wednesday 16th April @ 7.30 pm in Pastoral Centre, 48 Brook Street, Omagh. Call 028 8224 2439 or email omagh@accordni.com.

St. Colmcille’s P.S. Omagh Presents

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Christian Brothers Grammar School
Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd April At 7.30pm
£6.00 adults - £4.00 Children/Concession
Tickets available from Teresa (School Secretary) on 8224 4140

West Tyrone Feis – Time & Date Change
Date & Time Changes to Dancing Section Feis
Competition Number Age New Time & Date
305/306 Jig & Reel 6 – 7 Yrs 5.30 pm Friday 2nd May
307/308 Jig & Reel 7 – 8 Yrs 6.15 pm Friday 2nd May
309 Slip Jig Under 8 Yrs 7.00 pm Friday 2nd May
352 Fairy Reel 6 – 8 Yrs 7.15 pm Friday 2nd May
347 4-Hand Reel Under 10 Yrs 7.45 pm Friday 2nd May

The above competitions will now be held on Friday 2nd May, starting at 5.30 pm in St Joseph’s Hall. We apologise for any inconvenience but First Holy Communion is taking place in Omagh on the Sunday on which these competitions were due to run.

Workshop on Marriage
Renew Your Wedding Vows:
Marriage Encounter is a weekend away (Friday 8pm to Sunday 5pm) for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship. Couples explore, in complete privacy, how to come to a deeper mutual understanding of each other.
The dates for the next Marriage Encounter weekends are:

18th – 20th April, Emmaus Conference Centre, Swords (near airport)
26th -28th September 2008 Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, co. Derry

Phone: 028 90 626503 or 00353 1 8453517
www.marriageencounterireland.com

Gamblers Anonymous
Ask yourself: “Has my life become unmanageable because of gambling? Do I want to stop gambling?” If the answer is “yes”, you may suffer from a disease known as ‘Compulsive Gambling’. There is help. You are not alone. You don’t have to suffer. There are meetings every Monday commencing at 8.30 pm in the Probation Office, 11a High Street, Omagh.

St Joseph’s Hall
Mon 6.30pm - Iyengar Yoga
7.15pm - Kellie Aerobics/ Fitball
Tues 3.00pm - Colmcille Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
10.30am - Coffee Morning
6.00pm - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00pm - Ladies Club
Thur 4.30pm - Ballet Dancing
7 - 8pm - Traditional Music class
7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing
Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty Class